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Message from Gary Olsen – WGFOA President

Welcome to the WGFOA web site. Since its inception in 1966, our organization has strived to provide quality training and educational opportunities and timely updating of issues of importance to public finance officials.

As outlined in our by-laws, our goals are to:

Stimulate the professional development and promote free interchange of information in methods of budget preparation, financial reporting, governmental accounting, financial administration and general public finance.

Further the career development goals of public finance professionals and broaden the understanding of our duties and responsibilities.

Promote interest in and awareness of the public finance profession.

Promote professional contacts through the meetings of the Association.

Our Board continues to spend numerous hours on putting together themed conferences that provide our members with information they can use in all aspects of their jobs. Due to shrinking budgets, most staff in every part of an organization has had to take on additional duties and responsibilities. To that end WGFOA offers a wide array of sessions that include topic areas including human resources, risk management, purchasing and legal issues as well as accounting and finance related issues to assist our members in their expanded roles. Because of our reputation for providing high quality sessions at a very modest price, (registration costs ranges from $85 to $135 per conference), we consistently attract conference participants from both in-state and out-of-state areas. We search out qualified speakers to present issues with national, state and local perspectives.

The WGFOA sponsors at least three themed conferences annually at various locations throughout the state. See our Website or calendar for dates and locations. The Association sponsors a hospitality room at all conferences that is great for networking and sharing ideas with your peers. I have personally met new friends and peers over the past several years by being involved in this organization that I certainly would never have met otherwise.

We have expanded the number and types of scholarships available to members so that all members have a chance to attend various programs and conferences at a free or reduced cost to them or their organization.

The Board has also worked on and adopted many policies over the past several years to aid the current and future Board members in maintaining consistency in administering the Association’s operations.